Britain’s U-turns on net zero pledges

The UK will water down policies aimed at achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and instead pursue a “pragmatic” approach to hitting the target, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced

TRANSPORT
Ban on sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans pushed back from 2030 to 2035

Proposals for new taxes to discourage flying scrapped

Proposals to govern how many passengers people should have in one car discarded

RESIDENTIAL
Ban on installing new fossil fuel boilers in off-gas-grid homes delayed from 2026 to 2035

Grants to help people transition from boilers to heat pumps increased from £5,000 to £7,500
 
Rules forcing landlords to upgrade energy efficiency in their homes abandoned

ENERGY
Extraction of new oil and gas in North Sea allowed.
In July, Sunak already approved hundreds of new oil and gas licences in North Sea, angering environmentalists
   
Sunak’s rethink has prompted fierce criticism from opposition lawmakers, environmental campaigners, car industry and some Conservative MPs

UK CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS BY SECTOR
(Percentage, 2022)

Energy supply 24.8%
Transport 34.0%
Other 5.5%
Business 18.7%
Residential 17.0%
Total 331.5 MtCO2*
    

*Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent

Sources: UK Government, BBC, Reuters, FT 
Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS